Out but not down

Saturday

Bobcats head coach Ken Cribb told his players to celebrate their 12-2, record-breaking season after their lopsided loss to Myrtle Beach in the Lower State Championship.

And he's optimistic the team will continue to improve and won't forget the lessons learned from Friday's 47-0 game at Bobcats Stadium.

"It is a motivating factor," Cribb said, "because we know where they want to go."

Bluffton's Cinderella season folded with an offense that committed three turnovers and could never find room to run, ending the night with just 44 rushing yards. An estimated 4,000 or more Bobcats fans turned out.

Cribb said the Myrtle Beach Seahawks took some risks with extra linebackers and overpowered his team's offensive line all night.

"We got beat by a bigger, faster, more experienced, stronger team," he said.

Myrtle Beach (13-1) advances to the state title game against South Pointe, a 52-7 winner over Fairfield Central in the Upper State final, on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.

The Seahawks lost in the Class AAA State Championship a year ago after winning it in 2008. Its quarterback, senior Everett Golson, has verbally committed to play at the University of North Carolina Wnext season, and his favorite target, Donte Sumter, is headed to East Carolina.

Golson finished with 273 yards passing for four touchdowns. Sumter had all seven of his catches in the first half for 137 yards and a touchdown.

Running back K.J. Ford added 108 yards on 13 carries for the Seahawks.

Penalties and botched shotgun snaps were about the only plays that stopped the Myrtle Beach offense in the first half, when the Seahawks scored touchdowns on four of six drives. The first came on a perfectly arcing 35-yard pass to Sumter in the right corner of the end zone.

Bluffton's biggest play came at the wrong time, when C.J. Frazier connected with Marquis Webber on a short slant over the middle as the clock expired at the end of the first half. Webber nearly outran two Myrtle Beach defenders, but he was finally brought down 11 yards shy of the end zone.

"That would have been nice to get that and have some momentum going into (halftime)," Cribb said.

Instead, Bluffton ended the first half trailing 27-0, and Myrtle Beach's Octavius Thomas intercepted a Frazier pass and returned it for a touchdown on the first play of the third quarter.

Bluffton reached the Myrtle Beach 10-yard line in the third quarter thanks to two big runs from senior Zach Scott. But that was as close as the Bobcats would get. Scott finished the night with 70 yards on 10 carries.

Frazier was sacked five times. He got most of his 120 passing yards on the pass to Webber and on Bluffton's final drive.

"They were a lot faster than I thought," he said of the Myrtle Beach defense.

Cribb praised his team for never giving up, and he also praised the crowd, most of whom stayed through a light rain in the second half and joined the team on the field after the loss.

Thank You, from Bobcat Nation

Bobcat Nation says "thank you" to the Bluffton High School football team on its record-breaking season, via Bluffton Today's official BT Bobcats Facebook page.

Mayor Lisa Sulka

"This team had football on their minds two weeks ago when I told them that they would be honorary grand marshals for our Christmas parade. They will be riding behind our grand marshal this Saturday. Bobcats you will see first hand what the community thinks about you. It will be a great day."

Erin Lane-Boyles

"Soooo proud to have shared this season with the other BOBCAT parents and fans. To all the BOBCAT players and coaches, THANK YOU for allowing us to be a part of your wonderful season; it was a great ride."

Benisha Brown

"We love you Bobcats! Hold your heads real high! You've made the community very proud!!!!"

George Haslam

"CATS, you did yourself, parents, school and community proud. You young men are the heartbeat of this community. Thanks for bringing this community together once again. God bless you!"

Valencia Kinlaw-Scott

"Bobcats we are so proud of you ... the accomplishments you made this season were extraordinary! We love you! Bobcat Nation!"

Greg White

"I take my hat off to an incredible Bobcat team. We didn't win but there were 4 teams playing for the state championship and our Bobcats were one of them. Bluffton loves our Bobcats. BE PROUD!! Congrats on a terrific season!!"

Alexia Black

"It gave me such pride to be the mascot at last night's game. I am so proud of those boys. I graduated 2 years ago, but those Bobcats just keep bringing me back. Congratulations to all the Fall Sports at BHS; you guys really make me excited for the future. ♥"

Kyle Waddell Sr.

"I wish I could put into words how blessed I feel to have been allowed to serve our boys as team chaplain this season. I will continue to love and pray for them all. I would be honored and excited to see them at my church sometime in the future. Coaches and fans are invited, too. God bless you all. Wrestling season starts for our family next weekend with a home tournament. If you've never been to one, you would love it."

Kim Hart

"Bobcats, Thanks for the best, and I mean Best, Season ever! You all rock!"

Scott Allen Schroeder

"We love you Bobcats, and we will NEVER forget this season. Thank you. Bobcats...AARROO!!!"

Angela Mariela Akiyama

"Great season Bobcats, we love you and are very proud of you. You broke all records in Bluffton history and brought this community together. You are real-life heroes!! Looking forward for next season to see the boys of fall!!"

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